Qatar Airways passengers unnerved by fighter jets
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Amateur video captured by a Qatar Airways passenger shows fighter jets flying close to flight QR23 as it was being escorted into Manchester airport amid security concerns. Deborah Gembara reports.

Reuters

06 Aug 2014

News/World

BRITISH police have arrested a man suspected of making a hoax bomb threat aboard a Qatar Airways plane that caused it to be escorted down by a military fighter jet.

A Royal Air Force Typhoon guided the plane, which was travelling from Doha with 282 people on board on Tuesday, to Manchester airport in northwest England.

Witnesses on board said armed police entered the aircraft and escorted the suspect off with his hands on his head.

“A 47-year-old man from the northwest (of England) has been arrested on suspicion of making a bomb hoax and remains in police custody for questioning,” said Chief Superintendent John O’Hare of Greater Manchester Police.

Bomb threat...A military fighter jet escorts a passenger jet as it comes in to land at Manchester airport. Picture: GettySource: AP

“A full search of the aircraft has now finished and nothing suspicious was found.

“The incident arose when the pilot received information about a possible device on board the plane, having been handed a note from a passenger.”

Several emergency response vehicles could be seen parked around the plane.

Swarm...The Qatar Airways flight from Doha sits on the tarmac after having a military escort into Manchester Airport. Picture: GettySource: Getty Images

“An incoming plane has been escorted into the airport by the Royal Air Force as a result of information received by the pilot about a possible device on board,” he said in a statement. “We don’t know how genuine this threat is but it is absolutely vital we deal with the situation as a full emergency.

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